Filing equipment



. March 16, 1943.

D. A. BRENNAN FILING EQUIPMENT Original Filed Nov. 20, 1940 PatentedMar. 16, 1943 FILING EQUIPMENT Daniel A. Brennan, deceased, late ofChicago, 111.,

by Elmer L. Zwickel, executor, Chicago, 111., assignor to Acco Products,Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Originalapplication November 20, 1940, Serial No.

366,448. Divided and this application September 18, 1941, SerialNo.411,344

3 Claims.

This is a division carved out of application Serial No. 366,448, filedNovember 20, 1940.

The invention relates to filing and display equipment and particularlyto a novelty constructed clamping device for quickly and securelybinding large sheets, such as drawings, blueprints, maps, samples, andthe like, to suitable members for suspension from hanger arms.

The invention is primarily concerned with overcoming the difficultiesfrequently encountered in mounting such sheets or the like forsuspension in a manner to permit their ready removal or the quickinsertion of additional sheets.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to providesuspension members with novel means to clamp sheets for suspensiontherefrom.

Another object is to provide a resiliently flexible, easily adjusted,clamping element to bind sheets securely to a sheet suspension member.

Another object is to provide a novel clamp which is inexpensive toconstruct and positive in operation.

The foregoing and such other objects of the invention as will more fullyappear hereinafter as the description proceeds, will be more readilyunderstood from a perusal of the following description, in whichreference is made to the accompanying drawing; wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a mounted hangerarm and suspension member embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the suspension member and clamp,showing parts in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig, 2, showing thedisengaged clamp in elevation.

The device of the present invention preferably is used in conjunctionwith filing equipment of a type illustrated and claimed in KlinePatentNo. 1,867,158, issued July 12, 1932, although it is to be understoodthat the specific form of clamping element herein disclosed may readilybe installed in other types of filing equipment. In carrying out theinvention any suitable hanger arm may be detachably mounted upon asupport.

As an example of a preferred type of hanger arm and mounting, thedisclosure in Fig. 1 preferably includes a channel member H havingaligned openings in the flanges thereof to receive a pin 12. The pinpasses through a bearing portion 13 at one end of a suitable hanger inthe form of a projecting arm l4. This arm may be formed from a strip ofmetal having a co-extensive track I5 welded or otherwise secured theretoadjacent its lower edge and spaced slightly therefrom. A sheetsuspension member l6 may be formed of any suitable material, preferablysheet metal, so as to slidably engage the track l5 whereby it mayreadily be mounted on or drawn off the hanger arm.

As best shown in Fig. 2, the sheet suspension member It has its uppermargin turned rearward and downwardly to define a longitudinal channelI! for engaging over the upper edge of the track [5. Sheets 18, to besuspended from the suspension member I6, preferably have spacedapertures adjacent their upper edge to be threaded over similarly spacedstuds 19 carried on the suspension member adjacent its lower edge. Thestuds l9 may be secured to the sheet suspension member in any approvedmanner, however, it is preferred that they be secured to said member bya nut 2 I.

When the desired number of sheets 18 are placed over the studs I9, saidsheets must necessarily be clamped securely in place to prevent theirtearing or otherwise becoming damaged in handling. Accordingly, novelclamping means necessarily is associated with each pin l9.

' As best illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the stud [9 has a plurality oflongitudinally spaced recesses in the form of diametrical openings 22adapted to selectively receive a'tongue 23 on a clamp plate or collar24. The clamp plate 24 may be formed of any resiliently flexiblematerial, preferably spring steel, and is cut out, as at 25, to freelyadmit the stud. Its two fiat end portions 2611c in a common plane andits intermediate connecting portions 21 are bowed outwardly of the planeof said end portions. When mounting the clamp in place over the sheets,the bowed portions 21 are disposed against the sheets and the clamp ispressed tightly thereagainst. When i the sheets are compressed astightly as possible on the stud Is, the clamp 24 then is shiftedtransversely of the stud toengage its tongue 23 in whichever openin 22is closest thereto. This engagement prevents inadvertent displacement-.of th clamp and the sheets are tightly bound thereby against thesuspension member It. Obviously the sheets 18 are positively held on thestuds and guarded against inadvertent tearing. To remove or add a sheet,the clamp 24 is initially moved transversely to disengage the tongue 23and then outwardly off from the stud.

It should be understood that changes may be made in the detail structureof the embodiment disclosed herein, because the specific disclosure anddescription thereof is illustrative rather than restrictive, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clamp comprising a sheet of resiliently flexible material having a.transversely bowed portion midway between its ends, said bowed portionhaving an aperture, and a tongue extending into said aperture from oneend portion of said sheet, said tongue lying in the plane of said endportions.

2. A clamp comprising a sheet of resiliently flexible material having atransversely bowed portion midway between its ends, said bowed portionhaving an elongated aperture, and a tongue lying in the plane of saidend portions eX- tending into said aperture from one end and terminatingsubstantially midway the length of said aperture.

'3. In a filing unit, a suspension member having at least one sheetreceiving stud, said stud having a plurality of diametrical openingsuniformly spaced along its efiective length, a resiliently flexiblesheet retaining collar having an elongated aperture through which thestud extends, transversely bowed portions on said collar midway betweenits ends, said bowed portions being arched a distance substantiallyequal to the spacing between said stud openings, and a tongue lying inthe plane of the end portions extending into said aperture from one endand terminating substantially midway the length of the said aperture.

ELMER L. ZWICKEL, Executor of the Estate of Daniel A. Brennan,

Deceased.

